Editor’s note: This is the fifth installment in a series looking back at Eastern baseball coach Jim Schmitz’s 20 years coaching the Panthers.

The Eastern baseball team was tired of losing – losing to Southeast Missouri and a loss in the Ohio Valley Conference tournament was not an option for the Panthers in 1999.

After losing in the first round of the tournament 6-5 in 1997 and then losing in the championship game to the Redhawks 15-11 in 1998, Eastern coach Jim Schmitz gave the Panthers a reminder after coming second to Southeast Missouri.

“We lose a heartbreaker and it’s at SEMO and they’re celebrating on the field,” Schmitz said. “I remember that because I was talking to my team, looking at the field, and I actually said, ‘Turn around guys. See what they’re doing. They’re celebrating our OVC title.’”

The Panthers were on a mission.

Similar to previous years, though, Eastern did not get out to a good start, make that a 0-11 record to begin the 1999 season.

On one road trip to Winthrop, the Panthers were swept, losing all four games, which Schmitz used as an opportunity to give his team some extra cardio.

“After one game, I don’t know if they’re still running,” Schmitz said. “I just left them there running from foul pole to foul pole back and forth. I was so mad at them.”

In their last series before spring break concluded, the Panthers headed to Middle Tennessee State, which was then in the OVC, to start conference play. Eastern was 1-12, when it started its series against the Blue Raiders.

Yet, it seemed to be the right time for Eastern to start winning, as it started its conquest of the OVC, beating Middle Tennessee State two out of three games. As a matter of fact, following the 0-11 start, Schmitz led Eastern to a 32-10 record for the remainder of the season.

Of course, Schmitz had some help from a couple of pitchers and one who was not the most conventional pitcher to lead a team in wins.

Jeremy Sanders pitched in 34 games for Eastern in 1999, and tied John Larson with a team-high 10 wins that season. But Sanders also had five saves, as the team’s closer that made one start all year, but still ended with a 10-1 record.

“Sanders was 18-3 in relief in two years,” Schmitz said. “That’s pretty amazing. He would come in and get a save on Saturday and then sometime on Sunday, he’d come in the fifth or sixth inning and save us like you couldn’t believe.”

Sanders was not an overpowering pitcher, as he threw in the mid 80s, but once his delivery was altered, lowering it, he was as menacing a pitcher batters faced that season.

Schmitz also counted on Larson, who finished the season 10-3 with a 3.20 ERA.

“Larson, we knew we were going to win game one,” Schmitz said. “We had 20 of our 33 wins coming from two guys. That’s pretty amazing when it comes to that.”

Eastern finished the regular season with a 17-7 OVC record, winning the season title for the second straight year, but the Panthers had unfinished business in the tournament.

Eastern made it to the title game against Middle Tennessee State, but before the Panthers reached the championship they had to rely on their catcher and a savvy second baseman in the first round.

Schmitz, as accustomed was calling pitches, but for whatever reason he was not in sink that day with his pitchers against Middle Tennessee State. That it is when the Panthers’ catcher Ryan Bridgewater decided to take over.

“I wasn’t calling good pitcher and Bridgewater said, ‘Let me take over,’” Schmitz said. “Here we are in the most crucial part of the season and I said, Go ahead. You know what we’re doing.’ And he called an unbelievable game.”

Still, the Panthers were in a closely contested game and one player came to the rescue.

The Blue Raiders had a couple of men on base that prompted a bunt attempt, as Schmitz remembers, whoever fielded the bunt threw over the head of the first baseman.

“This is the end of the game, this is an error down the right-field line and there’s Josh Landon where he should be,” Schmitz said. “The second baseman right behind first base, catching the bad throw. If he’s not there, then we probably don’t go to the regional.”

Eastern won 8-7 and then beat Eastern Kentucky 9-4 to advance to the finals against the Blue Raiders.

Chris Martin came through for Eastern, hitting a two-run home run, Schmitz said, leading the Panthers to a 4-2 win and OVC championship.

“A big home run to right-center field to kind of seal the game and here’s a sophomore with a whole bunch of stars around him, hitting seventh in the lineup and did a great job,” Schmitz said.

It was on to Waco, Texas, where Eastern had its first NCAA Regional game against Baylor.

It was an odd feeling for Schmitz, standing inside of Baylor’s new facility, which still had not been finished, as there were barely any seats in the stadium.

“Minnesota was there pissed off, Arizona was there pissed off, you know, ‘why are they letting (Baylor) host,’” Schmitz said. “I remember them interviewing me and I was like, ‘I’m just happy to be here. I don’t really give a shit about all the other stuff.’”

Eastern lost 7-3 to Baylor, but the very next game the Panthers beat Arizona 13-4, saved once again by their closer and an aggressive game plan on offense.

“There pitcher was a first-round draft pick out of high school and turned down $1 million,” Schmitz said. “I remember telling the team if they swing at anything but the fastball I’m taking you out of the game. Now, in that game Matt Gage takes a ball off his leg and there’s Jeremy Sanders – six innings in relief – one hit.”

The season ended the following day, as Eastern lost 15-10 to Minnesota, as the Panthers simply did not have enough pitching to go deep in the tournament, Schmitz said.

But the 1999 Eastern baseball team will always be able to say that it was the first Panthers’ squad to make it to the NCAA Regional in program history.

“That year was the culmination of guys that were with me for four years, with a couple new faces added to it, but NCAA Division I Regional in EIU’s history is pretty remarkable what they did,” Schmitz said.

Aldo Soto can be reached at 581-2812 or [email protected].